joseph heney



(No Model.)

' J.J. HENRY.

Can Opener.

No. 238,288. I Patented March 1, I881.

Y awe/M06,

Attamey.

NPETBZS, PKOTD-UYHOGRIPHER. WASHINCXTUN. 0.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. JOSEPH HENRY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN HENRY SGHAAL, OF SAME PLACE.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,288, dated March 1, 1881. Application filed January 3, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN JOSEPH HENRY, of Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gan-Openers; and I hereby declare thein a can-opener embodying a blade adjustably secured to a flanged block and mounted upon a suitable handle, the parts being constructed and operating substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, A is a bar, by preference square or rectangular in cross-section, and having a number of indentations or depressions, a, a. At the end of the bar is a pin, 0, at right angles to the length of the bar, and having a point, 0, projecting in a line parallel to the axis of the bar. 0n the latter slides the block 1), which is clamped at any desired point on the bar by means of a set-screw or catch, 6, which enters the depressions a, and is provided with a flange, E, on the rear lower edge. A blade, d, slotted, as shown at cl, is adjustably and removably secured in a recess in the face of the block by means of a set-screw, f. B is a suitable handle. The depressions a are made at such distances from the pin 0 that when the same is inserted through the center of the canhead the blade d will run around in the edge of the countersunk part of the can head, and the flange E will rest outside the edge of the head. The depressions need, practically, be but three in number for the standard one, two, and three pound cans.

In operation, in opening a cylindrical can,

the block being properly adjusted, the point a is placed on the center of the can-head and punched through the tin. The handle B is then brought down to a horizontal position, when the blade will rest near the edge of the can-head, and the flange E will be on the outside of the can. The handle is then pressed down and drawn to one side, causing the blade to cut through the tin and wholly or partly around the head, as desired. The pin 0 serves as a pivot, and the pin or point 0 as a fulcrum to enable the user to press down the blade into the tin. The flange E subserves an important end, as it accurately gages the cut of the knife, and prevents it from moving irregularly around should the tin tear at the center hole.

With devices operating on the same general principle as mine, but having no flange, the head was liable to be cut up into a spiral, and the central pivot-hole to be torn to a considerable size, rendering the removal of the contents of the cans somewhat difficult, and pre senting an unsightly appearance when the food is served up directly from the can. With the opener above described the cut is clean, truly circular, and rapidly and easily made.

In opening square cans, the blade is simply caused to run along the edge at a distance therefrom determined byits distance from the flange.'

What I claim is- The combination, in a can-opener, of the bar A, having cranked point, as described, with the flanged block D and slotted adjustable blade (I, substantially as set forth.

J. J OS. HENRY.

Witnesses R. D. WILLIAMS, W. A. BERTRAM. 

